Wiz look for first winning streak against Rockets

(Sports Network) - Dual ankle injuries weren't what the Houston Rockets had in
mind when they were trying to get guards James Harden and Jeremy Lin to mesh
together in a new-look backcourt.

The Rockets hope to have both on the floor Wednesday night when they host a Washington Wizards club coming off its first road victory of the season.

Harden gutted through the pain of a right ankle ailment suffered last Saturday
to finish out that meeting with Dallas, but was unable to play in Monday's
134-126 overtime setback to the San Antonio Spurs. Lin stepped up in that game
and tied a career high with 38 points, hitting on four 3-pointers, all 12 of
his free throw attempts and dishing out seven assists.

Despite Lin's efforts and Houston hitting on 16-of-30 shots from behind the
arc, the Rockets dropped a season-high third game in a row for the third time
this season.

"It's tough obviously," Lin said. "I am thankful that I was able to kind of
get comfortable out there, but that's definitely secondary to the fact that we
blew another close game. I had the ball to win it and didn't get a shot up and
so this one definitely hurts."

The good news for Houston was that Harden was able to practice on Tuesday and
coach Kevin McHale said the guard moved around the floor well. However, Lin
hurt his ankle in the same practice and his status for this game is unknown.

That could deny Harden and Lin another game to get comfortable together.

"We've got to find ways of making sure we get (both guys involved)," McHale
said after Monday's setback, which came in the second contest of a four-game
homestand.

The Wizards should have some extra confidence heading into this meeting after
winning for the first time in nine road games this season. Though Washington
shot just 32.9 percent from the floor, it was able to get enough to defeat the
New Orleans Hornets 77-70 on Tuesday night.

Normally a shooting guard off the bench, Jordan Crawford got the start at the
point and netted 12 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter. He shot 9-of-24
from the floor and had just four assists in place of A.J. Price, who is out
after breaking his right hand in a loss to Golden State on Saturday.

Price, of course, was manning the point because John Wall has yet to play this
season due to a knee injury.

"How we have to get going at the start of games and everybody clutching the
ball, the movement and stuff, he second guessed a little bit, but I knew that
was going to happen," said head coach Randy Wittman of Crawford. "That's
something that will come along, but I thought he came down the stretch and
really made some big shots."

Bradley Beal netted 15 points and Nene chipped in 10 points and 10 rebounds
for the Wizards, who held the Hornets to 28 second-half points to overcome a
double-digit deficit. They have split their last six games following an 0-12
start.

"We just kept our heads in (the game). We kept fighting and kept it close. I
thought that was the key. Going into halftime, our guys felt good," noted
Wittman.

Washington, aiming to win consecutive games for the first time this season,
has lost three consecutive meetings with the Rockets and 12 of the past 14
encounters overall. It has also lost three straight and nine of its past 10 in
Houston.